Those of you who are pastors have likely all had this experience at one time or another: young children think you’re Jesus! The first time it happened to me was because the mother of the 3 year old always talked about going to the church by saying, “We’re going to God’s house.” Every time they walked in the doors (whether a weekend or a weekday), I was either at my desk or walking the halls. If it was indeed God’s house, and I was the one who was always there, it was easy to see how the child came to his conclusion.

This happened again just last Sunday. We had a new family begin visiting about a month ago. Their children are well behaved and reverent, but it was the youngest one who grabbed my attention right away. From the first time I ever saw him (before I even knew his name), he ran and hugged me. Every time I look over at any point on Sunday morning, his face lights up. When I greet people after the Divine Service, I will kneel down to him. He hugs me tightly and then has all kinds of stories he wants to tell. I didn’t really think anything of it other than that he really likes the church and must have had a really good former pastor! But then we celebrated the Sacrament of the Altar last Sunday, and it all made sense.

As I was making my way from each communicant to the next with the body of our Lord, I noticed him out of the corner of my eye. He was toward the end of the rail. That’s when I overheard a loud whisper (you know, the whispers of 3 year olds), “Here he comes!...it’s Jesus!” It all made sense. Like many 2-3 year olds before him, he associates the man in the chasuble as his Lord.

But this moment stuck with me more than any of the other times. It stuck with me and will stick with me because at no other time has any other child been right in their assessment. This one was. He wasn’t right because I am actually Jesus. He’s right because what I was administering is Jesus. In my hands I held the body of Christ. Even if his gaze was upon me as he said, “Here he comes!” it became a moment to catechize both young and old. Jesus is actually present with us in the Sacrament of the Altar. He’s present with us more than to give a quick smile or a hug or to hear a story, He’s here to give us Himself for the forgiveness of our sins. This is our confession. This is becoming the confession of that young boy, and I pray that he grows up with that same zeal and joy when he comes to the altar to receive. And when you approach this weekend (or any weekend), may you have the heart of a 3 year old that leaps for joy and proclaims, “Here He comes!...it’s Jesus!”